Rail fastener and bond.



Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

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0. 1). MoAFEE. BAIL PASTENER AND BOND.

. APPLICATION FILED MAB. 12,1909. 941,332.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

CHARLES D. McAFEE, OF BURGETTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL FASTENER AND BOND.

.1 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. MoArnn, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Burget-tstown, in the county of Washington andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovementsin Rail Fasteners and Bonds, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a rail fastener and bond for rail joints, andthe object of the invention is the provision of novel means inconnection with the splice bars of a rail joint for positively retainingthe splice bars in engagement with the confronting ends of two rails,and at the same time establish electrical connection between said rails,whereby railway signals can be transmitted from tower to tower and blockto block.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined nut lock andrail bond which will positively insure an electrical connection betweenthe rails and at the same time prevent nuts from becoming accidentallydisplaced due to vibratory stresses and strains exerted upon theconfronting ends of two rails by rolling stock passing over the same.

Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafterdescribed and then specifically claimed.

Referring to the drawings z-F igure 1 is a side elevation of a railjoint constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is ahorizontal sectional view of the same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged crosssectional view of the rail joint, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a nutlock forming part of my invention, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of acombined nut lock and yoke, and F igj6 is a front elevation of a washerused in connection with the rail fastener.

In the drawings, 1 and 2 designate rails having the confronting endsthereof connected by splice bars 3 bracing the web portions and heads ofsaid rails, said splice bars being held in engagement with said rails bybolts 4 and nuts 5 screwed upon said bolts.

My invention resides in providing the bolts 4 with longitudinal grooves6, and in said grooves arrange malleable nut locks for hold-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 12, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial-No. 482,882.

ing the nuts 5 upon the bolts 4 and preventing said nuts from becomingaccidentally displaced. The nut locks used in connection with the outerand end-most bolts comprise a yoke 7 having the ends thereof bentupwardly, as at 8, to engage between the split ends of washers 9 placedupon said bolts prior to the nuts 5, the upwardly bent ends of the yokebeing bent down into engagement with the nuts 5 to prevent said nutsfrom rotating, while the yoke 7 engages in the groove 6 of the end-mostbolts 4. The washers 9 are also used in connection with the bolts 4Lintermediate the end-most bolts, and the nut locks used with theseintermediate bolts comprise L-shaped bars having one end thereofengaging in the grooves 6 of the bolts, while the opposite ends of thebars are bentto engage the nuts 5 and prevent said nuts from rotating.In both instances, it will be observed that the washers assist the boltsin retaining the nut locks in position, and that whenthe nut locks areproperly positioned and sealed, it will be impossible .for a vibratorymovement of the bolts to work the nuts off of said bolts. With the nutsproperly tightened, particularly in connection with the end-most bolts,a positive electrical connection will be established through the mediumof the yoke 7, irrespective of the expansion and contraction of theconfronting ends of said rails.

The simplicity of the rail fastener and bond permits the joint beingeasily and quickly established by unskilled labor, besides the cost ofmanufacture being reduced to a minimum, by reason of the fact that thenut locks can be easily opened to permit of the nuts being removed andsaid nuts and the bolts again used in connection with another railjoint.

Vhile in the drawings forming a part of this application there isillustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, I would have itunderstood that the detail construction thereof can be varied or changedas to shape, proportion and manner of assemblage without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. In a rail fastener and bond, the com bination with the confrontingends of two rails, splice bars bracing said rails, bolts extendingthrough said splice bars and said rails, said bolts having longitudinalgrooves formed therein, and nuts adapted to screw upon said bolts, ofsplit washers mounted upon said bolts, a yoke mounted in the grooves ofthe outer-most bolts and adapted to have the ends thereof extendupwardly between the split ends of the outer-most washers and bent overto engage the outer most nuts upon said bolts, and bars mounted in thegrooves of the other of said bolts and adapted to extend upwardlybetween the split ends of the washers of said bolt and bent over intoengagement with the nuts of said bolts, substantially as described. v

2. In a rail fastener and bond, the C0111- bination with rails, splicebars bracing the confronting ends of said rails, bolts extending throughsaid splice bars and rails, said bolts having grooves formed therein,nuts adapted to screw upon said bolts, of split washers mounted uponsaid bolts, and a yoke, said yoke having the ends thereof mounted in thegrooves of said bolts and extending upwardly between the split ends ofsaid washers and bent to engage the nuts screwed upon said bolts,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

L. I). STOTTLEMYER, B. SIMS.

